Punitive damages for physical and mental injury, economic loss and emotional distress as a result of being a victim of trafficking

FOURTH CLAIM US/STATE CODE CITATION:

18 U.S.C. § 1593

FOURTH CLAIM RESULT:

Liable

DAMAGES AWARDED FOR FOURTH CLAIM:

$543,041.28

FIFTH CLAIM:

FIFTH CLAIM US/STATE CODE CITATION:

FIFTH CLAIM RESULT:

DAMAGES AWARDED FOR FIFTH CLAIM:

SIXTH CLAIM:

SIXTH CLAIM US/STATE CODE CITATION:

SIXTH CLAIM RESULT:

DAMAGES AWARDED FOR SIXTH CLAIM:

TOTAL AWARD:

$1,188,688.77

APPEAL:

No

EXPLANATION OF APPEAL:

APPELLATE OPINION CITATION:

HOLDING OF APPEALS COURT:

APPEAL STILL PENDING?:

SUMMARY:

Plaintiff worked as a housekeeper for Defendant Emma Zegarra for 8 years in Bolivia. In 2006, Zegarra, having taken a job at the World Bank., invited Plaintiff to move with her to the U.S. as her housekeeper. The parties signed an employment contract stipulating Plaintiffs's hours, wages, overtime, etc. Once in the U.S., Plaintiff was forced to work up to 75 hrs per week, 7 days a week, for 3 years. Zegarra paid victim only $8.50 required to keep her bank account open. Zegarra forced the victim into servitude through isolation, confiscating her passport, threatening deportation, and failing to renew her visa. Plaintiff filed claims under the TVPA and FLSA. The court entered a default judgment against defendant for $1,188,688.77.